Frame for dialyzing apparatus



Feb. 23, 1943. WE 1 2,312,015

FRAME FOR DIALYZING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 9, 1940 Patented Feb. 23, 1943FOR DIALYZING APPARATUS "George Hunt Weber, Scarsdale, N. Y., assignorto Bros'ites Machine Company, Inc., New York, N. Y., acorporation of NewYork Application September 9, 1940, Serial No. 356,078

Claims.

The present invention relates to dialyzing apparatus and particularly tothe devices designed to support the membranes or diaphragms whichcomprise the partitions between adjacent cells of such an apparatus.

Various types of membrane supporting devices have been heretoforedesigned or suggested, and

many placed in actual use. Generally speaking,

the type of diaphragm support heretofore most widely used has comprised,in combination with a rectangular metallic supporting frame, a pluralityof bars disposed in the plane of the frame,

the ends of the bars being secured to the frame members. gated and themajority of the bars employed ex.- tend longitudinally of the frame, aredisposed in closely spaced parallel relationship, and are transverselysupported by stiffening bars. It is the purpose of the present inventionto improve upon membrane supporting devices generally but particularlyto provide an improved device of the type just above referred to, inwhich a plurality of elongated bars are disposed in spaced parallelrelationship and are maintained in such relationship not only by thesupporting frame but by transversely extending, stiffening elements.

Dialyzing apparatus is, asis well-known, made use of in the treatment orrefining of many different types of liquids. The membrane supportingdevices are subjected to the action of these liquids and it is foundthat certain liquids attack and oxidize the welds which attach themembrane supporting bars to theframes, when these bars are actuallyattached to the frames by welding, which is a preferred method ofattachment. It is therefore highly desirable to provide a membranesupporting device in which the various members are not secured togetherby means of welds and, in accordance with the present invention, thisobjective is realized. 1 V

It is likewise a highly desirable attribute of a membrane supportingdevice for a dialyzing machine that the bars be secured to the framemembers in such manner that they may not be displaced accidentally, ifnot secured by welding, and that the bars be so connected to the framemembers that ready assembly with the rectangular supporting frame may behad, and ready disassembly if need be, for the purpose of substitutingbars of one kind or character for bars of another composition or type,as may be desired by the operator. Finally, it is much to be desiredthat the device as an entirety be of inexpensive character inasmuch aslarge numbers of such devices must be employed in a single dialyzingUsually the supportingframe is elon apparatus and a very considerableproportion of the cost of the entire apparatus is due to the cost of themany membrane supports employed. By way of example one form of theinvention is shown in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure l is a front elevation of the membrane support in its entirety;

Figure 2 is an edge view of the same;

Figure 3 is a section on line 33 of Figure 1, upon a larger scale, andpartially broken away;

Figure 4 is a section on line 4-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a perspective view showing the ends of certain of thelongitudinally extending bars of the grid and the frame member withwhich they are detachably interlocked; and

Figure 6 shows on a reduced scale, portion of the dialyzer frame ofFigure 1, showing certain of the longitudinally extending bars inpartially assembled relation to the frame.

The frame itself is generally indicated at I0 and the grid at II. Theframe is preferably fabricated of metal and comprises parallel elongatedmetallic members I2 and I3, which are normally vertically disposed whenthe frame is assembled in the dialyzing apparatus, andthe parallel topand bottom frame members I4 and I5, normally disposed horizontally.Attached to the side members l2 and I3 are the brackets I6 whichnormally rest upon the horizontally extending parallel bars I],respectively, thus supporting the frame in a vertical plane, asindicated in Figure 2. To each frame is affixed a resilient facinglayer, indicated at IS in Figures 2 and 3, this layer preferably beingof rubber and the membranes, which are not illustrated, are grippedbetween the resilient facing I8 of one supporting frame, and the back ofthe next adjacent frame, all in well-known manner.

Secured to the underside of the upper frame member ll and to the upperside of the lower frame member I5 are elongated notched ribs indicatedat 20 and 2|, respectively. These ribs are preferably rectangular intransverse section and are notched at intervals as most clearly shown inFigure 5, the lower rib 20 having notches spaced similarly to andpositioned directly below the notches formed in the upper rib 2|. Theseribs may be integral with or secured to the frame members I4 and I5 butin any event may not be dislodged and comprise rigid portions of thegrid supporting frame.

The grid comprises a plurality of elongated membrane supporting bars 22and one or more bracing rods or bars 23 extending transversely of thebars 22. Bars 22 are relatively thin and nally projec 2 wide:'and: arepreferably fabricated of. metal: so

asto be" somewhat flexible or'deiorm'able. Each. end of each bar may-besaid: to becentrally cut away, as shown in Figure 5', or to: have acentral:

portion, indicated at 25, adapted; to enter a:

notch such as 26 forward in a supporting. rib,-. and to have spacedlongitudinally projecting rib engaging elementsil on eithersidezof thenotch.

enteringv portion 25, it being the function: of: these longitudinallyprojecting: elements 121- to extend downwardly'on opposite sides of theadjacent rib after the associated bar. has beenx definitely positionedand to prevent movement of the bar'transversely to therib. The walls of.notch 26 engaging the opposite'facesof the-pot tion 25 of the'ba'r,ofcourse'will prevent movev ment of the end of the. bar'longitudinallyof the.- rib after the bar has once been placed iniintere lockingengagement with the grid. Hence no relative movement of grid and. barcan. thereaiter occur.

The several. bars 22 are supported in. flxedj space relationship, in thecase of the grid shown,. by two transversebracing rods 23"." Theserodsare passed" through alignedv cylindrical apertures;

in rods": and thereafterportion of the. radon;

each side of. each bar isdeformed; as indicated: at Ilinll'iguressand-4; bymeans'ofaimetal The several bars swaging or deforming tool;comprising thegrid are thus prevented from moving laterally on theirbracing rods"? In themanufacture of a device. such; as that which isshown; the various frame members are" attached together'to form therectangular grid.

supportingxframe and the vertical .members-. l1.

and I3 are drilled as" at: 2.9.1 and II tcfprovidere.-

cesses forthe reception ofIthe'endspf thetrans vers'ely. extending.bracing rods 23-.. Agrid is then formed, quite apart from. therectangular supporting. frame, by disposing the requisitenumber of rodsIZ'Fin-parallel relationship and passingthebracing rods throughalignedapertures in these rods, without however deforming the rods so as-toform a unitary structure.

previously formed apertures. 2! and. 30' and. by

deflecting and transversely distorting the clon gated rods 22, the-endsof these rodsmaybe positioned, first, so that-the spaced longitudinotchentering portion 25. thereof registers. with in Figured) andfpositioned;atool -maytbe: em-- ployed to deform. the bracing rods Yin; the

Then this loosely assembled. grid structure as an entirety may beassembled'rwith; the frame; the correspondinggends of: the twotransverse bracing rods being inserted" into. the

I manner shown. in 4 thereby positively holding: the: rcds rlfl; in;nxed -J spaced; relationship and, at the same." time; actually-extendingrods Zlfso-that the ends thereofipen'etrate more deep;

1y intothe apertures in; the frame:- intended to receive them.Therresulting-membrane support is sturdy and' includesjno weld's; isconiparatively inexpensive; and: emcienti. in operation.

Having; thus describedii the invention,v what is 1 claimed asnewanddesimetito be secnredfby Letterse Patent; is:

1;. A frameior adialyzing apparatus. comprising. parallel top: and:bottom: members, parallel side members, as diaphragmv supporting gridcarried: by, said; merrrliers;v two=- of. said. parallel members having:elongated parallel ribs-= thereon provided: withspaeedtransverseinotches; and the gridincluding-:parallelibarsextending: from. rib toarib'; eachx having; an:intermediate; portion at each endathereof which: lies in the adjacentnotch ;f ormed1.in:.a:.rib. .andspacedG elementsprojectingflongitudinally from: said har; and: lateral 1y*engagingwthezrib; wherebythe end of the bar is retained'against:movements I .22 A: frame. for. a dialmng apparatus comprising: paralleltops and: bottom members, parallel side: members; and; a.-. diaphragmsupporting. grid carriediby. saidzi members; two of; said parallelmembers having parallel. ribs thereon provided with spaoedftransversenotches,- andthe grid? including straight! parallel" flexible. barsextending: fromrib to rib; each bar having anintermediateportion.atteachtend thereof which lies in the adjacent notch; iormedin'a' rib,-, and

' spaced elements: proieetingl longitudinally from.

saidxbar-and closely engaging thesides of the adjacent; rib;whereby-"the-end off the bar: is retained against movement inza plane.normal to its 831;

A which the.:bars--are:--relttively: wide in;- a "directiontransverse-"to the and?v relatively narrow in I a: directiomparall'eiltoxribs.

4;.The combination-1 which includes the elements recited inzrclnim 1 andwhichin addition includes a .rod'interconnecting; the-several bars atpoints intermediate thei'ends thereof, said; rod

8i disposed'anormaily; totheibars andipassingthrough. aligned?aperturesiformed. in the bar's,

. bar; however,- being-fiexible-to facilitate asrsembly with: parallelribcarrying members of the. frame.

ting elements 21" lie. upon opposite, sidesof. the ad acent rib of the.frame and there after: :gnpved longitudinally; otzthe rib' until the 1The combinationwhich includes the e16) ments: recited 1. and whichinaddition includes;a rod interconnecting,the several bars, V

. at points" intermediate the. ends thereof; said rod being disposed:normally to the bars and passing through. aligned apertures? formed; in.the bars, I the I being: provided; atja point closely adja cent: each.side-of: eachlmember with projections comprising abutments to preventrelative move-- mcntzoflrodandrbar; for the purpose set forth.

GEORGE. WEBER.

3;. Thei-combfnationiset; f0rth..,in".claim 2 ml

